“The Aiguillette” The Society of White House Military Aides
Summer 2016
June 3, 2016 Chairman’s Report – Summer of 2016
Dear Society Members,
Let me list the accomplishments of our Advisors this last year as a measure of the success and direction of your Society:
1. Christmas Event - held in the elegant Decatur House compliments of the White House Historical Association, speaker was AMB Abelardo L. Valdez (Carter), Chief of Protocol for President Carter, sold out in 24 hours (some thought too fast) - Committee lead by Advisors Bill Sinnott (Carter / Reagan) and Veronica Richardson (Clinton).
2. 6th Annual Sr. Aide's Luncheon - hosted a roundtable at the Army Navy Club Farragut with the Honorable Ann Stock (Clinton Social Secretary), MAJGEN (Ret) Marcelite Harris (Carter), RADM Melissa Bert (Clinton) and COL (Ret) Carol Hattrup (Clinton) - This was a remarkable event, listening to women who "Leaned In" before the term was invented. Advisors Dave Pitcher (Nixon) and Rusty Johnson (Carter) organized this with a full house attending. They were assisted by Moderator Veronica Richardson and Advisor Kelly Brown (Clinton). Many Obama social aides attended.
L-R: Marine Aide Glenn Gearhard, Air Force Aide Dale Jones, Coast Guard Aide Philip Matyas
“Once and Future King?”
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3. Lifetime Members, Facebook, and LinkedIn - Nineteen (19) members became Lifetime members this year, breaking the previous record last year of 17, and before that 15. Many were Obama aides so the younger circles are embracing the Society which bodes well for our future. Advisor Riordan led this effort. There are 126 members on Facebook and 50 on LinkedIn.
4. Interviews for the White House Historical Association (WHHA) Nine (9) of our members were interviewed by the WHHA and these were added to the permanent section of the WHHA website concerning Social Secretaries on May 2nd 2016. The initial interviews were 15 minutes each, the extended, which are being released soon will be 45 minutes. This is a legacy event for our Society and a fascinating thing to watch which will make you proud. It can be located under the search words "Military Social". Honorary Advisor Valdez (Johnson) led this effort. Six of their pictures follow.
5. Our Backbone - I would also like to recognize for their time and dedication Advisor COL (Ret) Roger McNamara (Johnson) for the many legal and organizational matters he addressed expertly for the Society; CAPT (Ret) Sid Rodgers (Reagan) who serves as Executive Secretary for the many actions he coordinated for the Advisor group; and COL (Ret) Gary Smith who serves as Treasurer and oversees our expenses which are reported annually.
I could add more accomplishments, but the bottom line is that our new structure and Advisor group has performed very well, working together like they were at a White House State Dinner. They will ensure that our mission, and sterling reputation with many groups and people, remains intact and moves forward. Great job all!
The Society of White House Military Aides “AN ASSOCIATION OF WHITE HOUSE MILITARY AIDES WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION'S PRESIDENTS”
Kenn Riordan, Jr., USA (Ret) Founder and Chairman (505) 450 4293
2 WHHA Interviews are Live
The interviews with nine (9) of our members are now live at the White House Historical Association website and can be found at: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/military-social-aides , or you can enter "Military Social" at "Explore" when you access the website. It is the short version of 15 minutes which is well worth your time, with the extended interviews of 45+ minutes with each of the nine also available soon at the WHHA site. When you watch these, and it is quite an interesting thing to listen to, leading with AMB Abelardo Valdez, Johnson Aide and Chief of Protocol for President Carter, you feel very proud that you had this unique opportunity to serve a President and First Lady. Here are six of the nine. Brian Smith (Johnson), Bill Sinnott (Carter/Reagan), and Kelly Brown (Clinton, Bush ’43) were also interviewed.
Mr. David Pitcher AMB Abelardo Valdez COL (Ret) Roger McNamara (Nixon) (Johnson/Carter) (Johnson)
Kenn Riordan, Jr. COL (Ret) Veronica Richardson Mr. Andy Lawrence (Reagan) (Clinton) (Johnson/Nixon)
These pictures were taken by Matthew D’Agostino of the WHHA who we thank sincerely for sponsoring this perfectly.
3 Why are Military Members Aides to Heads of State By AMB Abelardo L. Valdez (Johnson)
The President has military aides advising and assisting him with a variety of matters relating to his responsibilities as commander-in chief of the armed forces, including transportation and communications, liaison with the Pentagon, etc. It is self-evident that military aides are best trained and equipped to handle those matters. On matters of policy, he relies on his Secretary of Defense, National Security Advisor; etc., all of whom are civilians and have the primary responsibility to advise on policy matters. Naturally he also relies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who are all senior military officers. However, civilian authority prevails both at the White House and Pentagon.
As to the military social aides, it was deemed early on that they were more appropriate to assist him at State events and other significant social events than the White House Police, whose responsibility is to provide security. As I mentioned, the President's Social Secretary and small staff were inadequate to deal with the large number of guests and increasing number of ceremonies and social events. These reasons and the dignified presence of the military social aides explain why they assist the President on these special occasions.
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SOCIETY OF WHITE HOUSE MILITARY AIDE (SWHMA) CORE ETHICAL VALUES 2016
Thanks to COL (Ret.) Roger McNamara Trustee Emeritus and Current Advisor
1. Members make an ethical difference and always strive to do the right thing. If unsure or in doubt, seek information from others. A list of SWHMA members and their contact information is at the website: http://swhma.org.
2. Members will go above mere compliance with laws, rules and regulations and take the high road. Members avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
3. Members are held to the highest standards of ethical conduct to include:
• Respect for others. Stand in their shoes to get their perspectives. • Do unto others as we would have them do unto us. • Integrity – having the fortitude to do what is right even when no one is watching. • We do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those that do.
RELATED COMMENTS
1. The SWHMA is a social organization. It is not a professional, business or political organization. 2. As with anything, improvement can always be made. Members can contact another member of our group to discuss any changes to these Ethical Values. Do not be timid – speak up. Our society welcomes your views and recommendations for improvement. 3. If you believe any violation of the Core Ethical Values has occurred, discuss it with the involved individual or a member of our group. 4. Violations of Core Ethical Values by members shall be referred to the Board of Advisors for review, discussion and action as appropriate up to revocation of membership if warranted and supported by facts.
4 Advisor Meeting - December 20, 2015 Army Navy Club at Farragut Square
Chairman Kenn Riordan listens to Kennedy Aide Don Kentopp L‐R: Committee Members Avis McAlister, Al Chong, Carol Hattrup, and Kenn Riordan
Kenn and Mrs. Elaine Freeman, President of Advisor Art Gorman briefs all the Armed Forces Hostess Assn.
L‐R: Richardson, Pitcher, McNamara, Cross, Valdez, Brown, Sinnott, Riordan, Rodgers, Kentopp
5 White House Christmas Tour – Dec. 21, 2016 The Decatur House
Perhaps the best we have had, certainly one of the best: Decatur House venue - elegant, speakers Mr. McLaurin and AMB Valdez - spot on, interviews - very pleasant surprise, White House - beautiful! A big hand of applause from all of us to Committee Chairman Sinnott and Co-Chair Richardson, plus 5 committee members for just a very well executed event which is complex and precise. Bill and Veronica will address how to include more members, and a photographer for next year's event. Please see the attached pictures and also ones for our 2nd Annual Advisor Meeting at the Army Navy Club at Farragut Square, the day prior to the tour. It was very classy and enjoyable. Also shown for the first time were interviews of nine members by the White House Historical Association, recording our White House experiences.
Here is what one former Marine, not given to faint praise, said:
"It will be hard to improve on last Monday's event, and pre-event venue and activity. You make me proud and I know your family is of you …."
L-R: Donald Woolfolk (Aide), Haley Rodriguez, Wendy Bergs- Woolfolk, and Jackson Woolfolk
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Reagan Aides Art Gorman, Kenn Riordan and Mark Frankford (Aide) with Janice and Anna Frankford RADM Dave Baucom
Veronica Richardson and guests James Bullock and Bill Sinnott (Aide)
Avis McAllister and Carol Hergenroeder White house entrance hallway was just beautiful!
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AMB Valdez (Johnson) awarded as Guest Speaker
Reagan Aides Don Woolfolk and Kenn
Riordan posing before "The Man" in the White House
Woody Lee (Aide) & Frank Wildes
Justin Barnes and guest
Gingerbread House 8 Bruce Roehm (Aide) far right with Jeffrey Chaperon, Eugene Mazur Jr. (Aide) and family, Sara, Ives and Emma Jonathan Richards
Joseph Guzowski (Aide), Roberta Cain, Holly Guzowski
Nereyda Sevilla (Aide) and Brian Dusch
Don Woolfolk – presented with CAPT Larzelere’s Jeffrey Greene (Aide) Joan Greene, Gerald and Conner Alexander book as member traveling the furthest
9 White House Historical Association President McLaurin is Avis McAllister (Aide) and son Lonnie made Honorary Member
Family of Cherry and Peter Baumbusch Collin Smith (Aide), Soizik Smith, Caroline Howard
Brian Smith (Johnson) is Sr. Aide present
10 6th Sr. Aides Luncheon – May 2, 2016 The Army Navy Club at Farragut Square
In perhaps the best day in our 25 year history, we were privileged to listen to an amazing group of women who spoke about their experiences in the White House and afterwards. They invented by their actions the words "Leaning In" 20 years before it was coined. Although BGEN (Ret) Maria Owens couldn't join us for personal reasons, Gahl Hodges Burt (Reagan Social Secretary) did, and she provided us a unique insight on First Lady Nancy Reagan, gained during a tea with her not long before she died. Gahl also noted that she brought to the attention of a Mr. Hickey, advisor to President Reagan, that the President should consider having a female as a Presidential Aide which led to the selection of Commander Vivien Crea, who later became Vice Admiral Vivien Crea!
L-R: Founding Chairman Kenn Riordan and Moderator COL (Ret) Gahl Hodges Burt speaks about her time with Nancy Reagan Veronica Richardson with panel: The Honorable Ann Stock, MAJGEN (Ret) Marcelite Harris, RADM Melissa Bert, COL (Ret) Carol Hattrup
The Panelists Inspired Us
Advisor and Carter / Reagan Aide LTC (Ret) William Sinnott has summed it up best and I copy him:
"The panel program was exceptional. How I got to where I am from where I started, and the unplanned but opportune transitions provided by mentors along the way is a brief summary. Very candid and refreshing reflections on lives well lived by very bright people who occasionally took risks during their younger years that they did not recognize were risks at the time. They just took the doors when they were opened. My first thought as the panel completed was that the candid advice provided by these very accomplished women would be useful and relevant to all young members of our society, female or male. However, upon further reflection, I must admit that their very positive reflections provided useful guidance to all of us, female or male, young or old. In an era where negativism, a lack of courtesy, a lack of trust, and how can I beat up the other guy next prevails in the over abundant and generally negative media that surrounds us all, this panel and the advice they candidly offered was a breath of fresh air and optimism."
I could not improve on this. The panelists I might add were excited Ann S. Stock, Kenn Riordan Jr., about their presentations and it showed. All received gifts purchased at the Gahl Hodges Burt White House Historical Association (WHHA). Also, live that day on the WHHA website were interviews with nine of our members. Wow!
11 SWHMA Luncheon 2016
Multiple People
Panelists: Ann S. Stock, Marcelite J. Harris, Melissa Bert, Carol Hattrup
David M. Pitcher, Walter J. Johnson, Kelly Brown
Dr. John McNamara, Roger McNamara, Dr. Nancy McNamara, Cliff Tuck
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LT Stephanie Young
Sandra V. Richardson, Ann S. Stock, Marcelite J. Harris, Kenn Riordan Jr., RADM. Melissa Bert, Carol Hattrup
Sandra V. Richardson, Marcelite J. Harris, Nancy Gutherie, Col. Anne Sanks
Ann S. Stock, Sandra V. Richardson, Gail Hodges Burt
Andrea Harnett, Ainslie Pitcher, Ben Fisherow, Steve Conver, Elaine Gillis, David M. Pitcher, William Gillis
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Swapping stories
Walter J. Johnson, David M. Pitcher - presented award for hosting the event
RADM. Melissa Bert
Kelly Brown Sandra V. Richardson, Ann. S. Stock, Marcelite J. Harris
William Q. Sinnott, Carla Stucki, Brittany Harris, daughter of Carla 14
Multiple people (foreground – Paul W. Bobowiec, Mehdi Sheikerz)
Carol Hattrup, Col. Anne Sanks, Sandra V. Richardson, Nancy Gutherie
Ainslie Pitcher, Richard A. Gollhofer, Terri Gollhofer, Paul W. Bobowiec, Mehdi Sheikerz, Alexander H. Butterman
Ann S. Stock, Marcelite J. Harris, Carla Stucki, Brittany Harris
VMI Cadets: Ellana Avery, Catherine Berry, Emily Dickson, Kelly Brown, Quinn Conrad, COL (Ret) Hurlbut, Reagan Goulla
15 Carol Hattrup and Kathryn Kolbe Roger McNamara, Jose Thompson
Ms. Harris (daughter), Marcelite J. Harris, Diann L. McCoy
Our guests
Sandra V. Richardson, Ann S. Stock, Marcelite J. Harris, RADM. Melissa Bert, Nancy Hattrup (Diann L. McCoy’s back)
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William Q. Sinnott, Paul W. Bobowiec, Mehdi Sheikerz, Alexander H. Butterman, Kenn Riordan Jr. Gahl Hodges Burt presented a gift as Honorary Chairman
Sandra V. Richardson, Ann S. Stock, David M. Pitcher, Carol Hattrup
Ann S. Stock, William Q. Sinnott
Roger McNamara, David M. Pitcher, William Q. Sinnott, Sandra V. Richardson Sally Jones McNamara, Roger McNamara 17 The Reagans - Passing of an Era
For those of us who watched the Nancy Reagan ceremony live on Friday, March 11th, it was a moving experience. It was so like President Ronald Wilson Reagan and Nancy: the presentation and backdrop superb, execution meticulous, emotion just at the right level, humor as is characteristic of President Reagan's Irish roots, ever present. For those of us who served, we recognized the great and famous: President Bush, four First Ladies, Prime Minister Mulroney, Secretary Baker, Governor Schwarzenegger, the Reagan family, the list goes on. It was America at its height: proud, powerful, precise, ready and willing to protect. Although I was not initially inclined to watch, I can't say the military aides' connection to Mrs. Reagan was at the same level as the President - Reagan Aides COL (Ret) Tim Milbrath, RADM Dave Baucom, CAPT (Ret) Sid Rodgers. LtCol (Ret) Barbara Cross, and LTC (Ret) Bill Sinnott among others, were quick to bring the passing to my attention and remind me of the live event. We were so fortunate to serve this President and thus to be part of history, standing in the shadow of greatness, an emotion and memory which remains strong with us for the rest of our lives. The Society's Honorary Chairwoman and Reagan Social Secretary Gahl Hodges Burt represented us at the ceremony which she said was impressive to behold and an honor to participate in.
This is our shared experience with many Presidents, what makes our camaraderie as a Society so unique and truly exceptional, despite the challenges of the nation and our lives.
I have asked the best military aide I have known, Reagan Aide COL (Ret) Don Woolfolk to represent us, and place a wreath at Mrs. Reagan's gravesite, which she shares with her beloved "Ronnie". We will miss you, President Reagan and Nancy, our First lady, and be very thankful for your love of America and family; your strong will to defend our country against the Soviets and all others; how proud you made us feel as military aides, as Americans; and how long we will remember you - for all time. I attach the letter President Reagan wrote the Society in 1994 before he slipped away, to commend us on our 3rd reunion. We should end this tribute with the words of Ronald Reagan himself, and his humor as any good and proper Irishman would do:
"I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life."
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book."
"A woman is like a tea bag, you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." Nancy Reagan
"No arsenal ... is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."
"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
Ronald Reagan Coast Guard Aide Bob Walters (later CG presidential Aide) and Air Force Aide Jan VanHoomissen introducting the Clintons
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19 Darker than Dark by John Admire, Vietnam and Gulf War Infantry Marine
Maj Gen John Admire USMC (Ret) is our Marine Corps Service Director and has written an extraordinary book about Marines in combat in Vietnam. Quite possibly this brilliant story is a first person account, as evidence of his five combat tours and multiple purple hearts. The book truly captures the ferocity, fear, and brutality of combat which the average American civilian has no appreciation for, not understanding that "freedom is not free" but paid for periodically by the lives of their young men and women. Thank you General Admire for asking me to review this book, and as an Army infantryman, it was both a reminder and eye opener of the profession I served in for 20 years. Should be required reading for all Marine Basic Course Officers.
Interview
Kenn Riordan, Jr: What President did you serve as a Marine Corps Social Aide and is there a particular event which stands out?
John: It was my honor to serve President Jimmy Carter and come to know him and Rosalyn Carter as good and decent and honorable people. While virtually every event at the White House stands out in my memory, three are particularly significant. First, serving during the State Visit of Pope John Paul. Second, the opportunity to serve during the White House visit of numerous country music stars, especially Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn. Third, while introducing Dolly Parton to the President my eyes unintentionally drifted to a spot I warned myself to avoid only to have the White House photographer photograph my unfortunate gaze, which was printed on the front page of the Washington Post the next morning.
Kenn: Please provide us with the highlights of your military career: combat tours, purple hearts, awards, etc. as you see fit.
John: The privilege of leading Marines was my career highlight. I was blessed with the opportunity of commanding units at every level from a Platoon of 40 Marines to a Division of over 20,000 Marines. I served in three wars and five combat tours with the most memorable and honorable Marines and Navy Corpsmen our nation has ever produced. I also had the opportunity to serve on General Colin Powell's Joint Staff in the Pentagon as well as on Capitol Hill as the Marine Corps liaison to the U. S. Congress. But nothing compared to serving with Marines in the field and in combat.
Kenn: Why did you write "Darker than Dark"?
20 John: I wrote my Vietnam War novel to honor those who served and sacrificed in the war. War was never necessarily what many of us wanted to do right then or right anytime. But many of us wanted to do what we believed was right and we believed that helping people be free was right. Those who served endured incredible sacrifices and miseries. The brutal and ruthless battles assaulted our youth and innocence. Death and heartbreak over-whelmed us. Killings dehumanized us. Fear terrorized us. Danger stalked us constantly. But what hurt us the most was the loneliness and sense of lack of support from our country during the divisive war. We came to feel alone and misunderstood. Those who served deserved none of the indignities that later confronted them. I hope and pray, however, that my novel helps them understand they are appreciated and respected for their service and sacrifice.
Kenn: Does the book reflect your experience as a commander at the platoon, company, or battalion level?
John: Yes, the book is a story, a personal memoir, of my first of three tours in the Vietnam War. It's a story of four young Marines. It's about fighting and killing. Compassion and love, however, are defining parts of the story. The story personalizes what war does to those who fight it and what they do to survive it. Enduring and caring relationships forged in combat are as much a part of their survival, maybe more, as their combat skills. While memories fade they remain true and the story is based on remembrances of actual battles, personal experiences, and genuine characters. There may be an embellishment or two, perhaps an exaggeration here and there, but those are prerogatives of ole warriors...and survivors.
Kenn: How does this book relate to our current conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world?
John: Today, the war on terror and the dysfunction of various states and the ideological rivalries in the international community pose serious threats to the stability and security of our world. Nations and peoples are struggling to understand the differences that divide us. In the Vietnam War we were divided by dissent and polarized by protests. In its aftermath, however, the general consensus was that the lessons we learned from the conflict would possibly be its legacy to us. Quite simply, we made mistakes and we were committed to learning from them. Then, as well as now, the conflicts of our time and the future present us with challenges similar to Vietnam. We must understand them to protect our freedoms and nation and peace. Last, as Americans we have the right to hate violence and despise war. But as citizens of a democratic society we have the responsibility and duty to understand the burdens we as a society impose on those warriors we send to fight in our name for our nation and our freedoms. Hopefully, reading my novel is an important step toward helping understand this moral obligation.
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GEN Tony Zinni USMC (Ret) wrote "As a highly respected veteran of that war and a top leader for decades in the Corps, he knows battle, how men deal with the challenges of combat, and all the raw emotions that rip through the souls of warriors."
21 “Real Bullets”
Lifetime Members, Many Obama Aides are Coming Onboard!
Josie Moore was presented at the luncheon with Roosevelt Aide George Elsey's book about his service as military aide to President Roosevelt and civilian advisor to President Truman. Josie is our 19th Lifetime member this year, breaking last year's record of 17, which broke the previous record of 15. We had seven (7) Obama aides attending the luncheon. So good to see that the younger people are interested. (membership form attached or you can pay at http://shwma.org )!
Lifetime Member Josie Moore, Kenn Riordan Jr., Sandra V. Richardson
Accessing the SWHMA Facebook Page (126 current members): Go to www.facebook.com and either sign up for an account or log on. Once you are logged on, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/SWHMA/ or search “The Society of White House Military Aides” in the search box (select “More” and then “Groups” to find the group page). Go to the group page and select “Join Group”. Once you have been confirmed by other members of the group you will be added.
Accessing the SWHMA Linked Page (50 current members): Go to www.linkedin.com and either sign up for an account or log on. Once you are logged on, go to www.linkedin.com/groups/Society-White-House-Military-Aides-8432756 or search The Society of White House Military Aides. Once you access the group page, select “Ask to Join”. Once confirmed, you will be added to the group.
22 LT COL (Ret) Frank Hood (Bush '41 / Clinton) would like to clarify that he certainly was the first NGAUS to serve as a Social Aide, and CAPT John Fesler would be the 2nd National Guardsman to serve, and not vice versa. Frank actually had to produce his ID when he interviewed to prove he was on active duty. Should not take more than 10 years or so for Frank to set the record straight. As Paul Harvey would say "and that is the rest of the story".
LTC (Ret) Bill Loper (Reagan) has moved with his family of four to The Woodlands in Houston with 32,000 lbs. of "stuff" and bought a much bigger home for 1/2 the price of his home in VA. Wife Ann's company EXXON paid for the move, daughter Meredith is attending St. Andrews in Scotland, Kathryn is at SMU, and Preston is in a very big HS. Bill is the manager of this complicated operation for now. Not bad work for someone of similar height picked to escort Mary Lou Retton and then making the Wash Post Style page the next day. Thank you Bill for taking the time to write that note.
COL (Ret) Betsy Gibson (Carter / Reagan) has visited 295 of 325 countries, territories and unique locations since serving in the White House. She lives in Goodyear, AZ known for its spring baseball teams.
COL (Ret) Carol Kettering Joyce (Clinton) served as an Appellate Court Judge and was the Senior Legal Advisor to the CG, II MEF, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. She and I met with Federal Judge Bruce Kasold for breakfast on May 2nd in DC.
Rebecca Dye (Carter / Reagan) is a Commissioner for the Federal Maritime Commission and is launching a new initiative with supply chain "Innovation teams' on May 3rd, with participation of the largest retailers and transportation companies in the country. That's all!
MAJ GEN (Ret) Thomas L. Carter (Reagan Presidential) states "Since you were there during “Rawhide” years, you might enjoy this two hour Town Hall meeting at the Reagan Ranch Center this past Feb. Six former Reagan Military Aides telling stories about the Gipper. It’s priceless. He is married to COL (Ret) Colleen Toussaint Carter who I thought I saw in the audience during Tom's impressive interview. http://livestream.com/YAF/ReagansBirthday020616 Woody Lee (Reagan Presidential) also participated.
LTC (P) Kelly Brown (Bush '41 / Clinton) was event Chair for the Women's Mentorship Network Symposium held at the Women's in Military Service for America Memorial.
Scott Suozzi (Clinton, Bush ’43) From June 2014 to June 2015, Scott completed an ambitious personal journey visiting all 48 of the continental United States, seven Canadian provinces, twenty-eight national parks, and nine Presidential libraries, covering over 33,000 total road miles in a Winnebago recreational vehicle. Lots of great archives and photos for aides to see when they visit any of the Presidential libraries!
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Caren Hergenroeder She served for 3 months on a rotational assignment in which she was requested by name to fill a critical detail in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Protocol Office to assist with the transition of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Noteworthy events during the three month rotation included the retirement ceremony in honor of Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Change of Responsibility Ceremony for the Chairman between General Martin E. Dempsey and General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., visits by five Foreign Chiefs of Defense, the Service Chiefs and Combatant Commanders Conference, and several promotion and retirement ceremonies.
Donna Bartee-Robertson (Clinton/Bush ’43) is working as a cyber security policy expert for MITRE, and is teaching as an adjunct professor, National SecurityLaw Program, George Washington University.
Mystery Photo
Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice (and Sid)
24 In Memoriam
Mr. George Elsey (Roosevelt / Truman) was a great man and our Honorary Chairman. He was a Situation Room briefer to Roosevelt and Truman, escort for Winston Churchill, an author of the plan to form NATO, and also the Containment Doctrine for the Soviet Union, informed the new President Truman of the existence of the A Bomb, and later served as President of the American Red Cross for 14 years. It is hard to describe the incredible major events this man was involved in. Always courtly when I contacted him, given of a photographic memory of these many historic events, he once said to me "Kenn, you're doing a great job except for one thing, its George not Mr. Elsey" to which I replied "Yes, Mr. Elsey". May God embrace this great and modest man.
COL (Ret) Lawrence Marousek (Eisenhower) was our Marine Corps Sr. Service Director for many years and a very loyal supporter of this Society. He was an All-American soccer player at the USNA, Annapolis, and mentor to GEN Peter Pace, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose retirement he was honored to attend in the front row. When GEN Pace singled out COL Marousek at one of our Christmas tours, a tear came to his eye as I stood next to him. He was a humble and admirable man, God Bless!
COL (Ret) Herbert Yale Schandler (Johnson / Nixon) was a West Point graduate and Green Beret in Vietnam, later taught at the Academy and the National War College, writing a highly regarded book about the US intervention during the Vietnam War. He never failed to compliment me on the work and accomplishments of creating this Society and was thankful that it had brought him together with other Johnson Aides. He attended the luncheon aboard the Sequoia which we hosted for seven (7) Social Secretaries. May God bless and protect him!
LTC (Ret) Judy Armington (Carter) was a most interesting person, who Phil Coughter, Tom Mira and I played golf with on several occasions. She owned and piloted a plane; sang in the church choir during the Messiah performance at the Kennedy Center; and was just a very upbeat and fun person to be around. Although outspoken, and sometimes direct, she was a hard person not to like. Rest in God's peace!
Doug McNary (Clinton) passed away in January at a young age, victim of a disease contracted in England some years ago which never gave up its grip. Doug, a USAFA grad, was a brilliant person, a Fellow to the Council of Foreign Relations, studied at Oxford College, England, and answered, sometimes in mid-question, every White House trivia question I ever posed at our Christmas tours. He was one of our USAF Directors and one of my favorites, absolutely fearless like a true Scotsman. I (we) will miss you Doug, God Speed!
25 Rebuilding the White House
All Images are Copyright © The National Archives. Content Source: Mashable Thanks to Bobby Chunn
The 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, moved into the White House in 1945. To his surprise and dismay, the house had serious problems. Not only was it drafty and creaky, it was downright unsafe. Chandeliers in the house were observed swaying for no apparent reason, and floors moved underneath people’s feet when stepped on.
All of the above resulted in a structural investigation being conducted on the building, revealing haphazard retrofitting, fire hazards and a second floor that was on the verge of collapsing. What’s more is that the White House’s foundations were sinking, walls were peeling away and disused water and gas pipes were weighing down the building and making it unsustainable.
The situation was so bad that, in June 1948, one of the legs of First Daughter Margaret Truman’s piano fell right through a floorboard of her second-floor sitting room. This event, along with others, made the Presidential family and its aides realize that serious measures were required to save the historic building
In 1949, Congress approved a $5. 4 million Project to gut the building in its entirety, replacing its interior while retaining its historic facade. Architects, engineers, and workers toiled for the next 22 months, trying to figure out how to remove unstable structural elements while somehow ensuring the exterior of the building remained intact.
All of the construction equipment used on the site had to be carried inside in pieces, then re-assembled before being used in order to prevent exterior damage. The first and second floors were replaced, while several expansions and basement levels were added, including a bomb shelter that was capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.
President Truman and his family returned to reside in the White House in 1952, with a small ceremony marking the occasion. The First Family received a gold key to its newly- refurbished residence.
May 17, 1950: Bulldozers move earth around inside the gutted shell of the White House
January 3, 1950: A second floor corridor.
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January 19, 1950: The East Room. February 6, 1950: View from the servants' dining room.
February 23, 1950: Workers remove the main staircase. January 23, 1952: The state dining room.
March 24, 1952: Library of Congress employees place books on the shelves of the West Sitting Room. March 27, 1952: President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman return to the White House after the renovation. 27 'Treasures' from the White House Thanks to Andy Lawrence (Johnson/Nixon)
All of the things people steal when they visit the White House
Gilded place-card holders, mostly used at State Dinners, are one of the most taken items from the White House. This view shows the holder and another one turned on its side so that the engraving under it can be seen.
Washington Post By Juliet Eilperin
Every detail of the recent state dinner for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was carefully orchestrated and touched with the kind of sophistication one would expect from the White House — from the table arrangements with cherry blossoms and orchids to the perfectly chilled sake guests sipped during the opening toast. But just before the dessert course, waiters executed an extraordinary maneuver: They deftly removed all the vermeil eagle place-card holders from the tables so that guests would not be tempted to swipe them on the way out. Such is the reality of entertaining in the White House: Despite the elegant setting, or maybe because of it, there’s always a risk items might disappear into visitors’ pockets, purses and other hiding places. After all, how often does one get invited to a state dinner, an awards luncheon or a medal ceremony at the White House, and who does not want a souvenir, a memento from their brush with power? The result is that White House events sometimes produce small outbreaks of petty thievery. Most of the pilfering is minor: plush towels embossed with the presidential seal from the washroom, or cheap spoons the White House rents from a caterer for large parties. But other items are pricier, including the place- card holders, small silver spoons and cut-glass pieces dangling from sconces in the women’s washroom. On Air Force One, everything from tumbler glasses to pillowcases have been taken by some of the reporters, staff and lawmakers who have traveled aboard the presidential aircraft. Place settings with the Obamas’ new State China Service is set for the Japan State Dinner in the State Dining Room at the White House on April 27.
The “stealing” is not new and, in maybe perverse ways, is reflective of the enduring high regard in which people hold the presidency and the power it represents.“This has been an issue since the White House opened and John Adams began entertaining people,” said William Bushong, chief historian of the White House Historical Association. “The main temptation is the fact that you want to have something that is a memento, that gives you a connection to that experience you had in the house. The temptation is just irresistible.”
In some ways, visitors to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue used to be even more brazen. Tourists plucked hairs from the tail of Old Whitey, President Zachary Taylor’s mount from the Mexican War, until it was bare. During Abraham Lincoln’s time, they snipped fabric from the draperies and furniture. “Souvenir hunters,” wrote Rutherford B. Hayes’s son Birch, “were the bane of our lives.”
And Eleanor Roosevelt’s tendency to host teas for hundreds of people at a time made it easy for some of them to walk off with household items. Henrietta Nesbitt, who served as a housekeeper there from 1933 to 1945,
28 complained in her 1948 book “White House Diary” that the hand-sewn presidential and U.S. shield held tremendous allure. And after pieces of flatware engraved with the words “The President’s House” kept vanishing after then-first lady Laura Bush hosted an event, she wrote in her memoir, “we used it only in the private dining room upstairs.” No item is too minor to be stolen: During the 2006 Easter Egg Roll, East Wing aides discovered a ring of volunteers had been secreting away wooden commemorative eggs and coloring books beneath the porta-potties. (They promptly reassigned the volunteers to serve egg salad at the food tent, to avoid making a scene.) “There were times when the social secretary’s staff joked that we should have guests walk through the magnetometers on the way in, and again on the way out,” Bush wrote in “Spoken from the Heart.” Lea Berman, who served as White House social secretary under George W. Bush, said one woman so brazenly shoved presidential paper towels in her pants and shirtsleeves, “she was walking like the Michelin Man” when she exited. “We went into the washroom, and it was cleaned out,” Berman said. “There’s a fine line between petty theft and vandalism.”
One-percenters are not above taking a few White House knickknacks. Television personality Barbara Walters became so notorious for swiping washroom towels that in 2012 the first family sent her a basket of tchotchkes from the residence, including a spoon.
“It’s always just a tremendous joy to have her here, as she tries to steal various items from the White House,” Michelle Obama told “Entertainment Tonight” several months later. “Barbara, you can take what you want, whenever you want.”
Oscar-winner Meryl Streep is also a repeat offender. Streep first ’fessed up to pocketing hand towels when she visited the White House as a Kennedy Center honoree in 2011. Three years later she was back again in the ladies’ washroom — this time as a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner — when another guest started eyeing the towels stamped with a presidential seal. “Go ahead, take one, I already put one in my purse,” Streep told the woman, in a conversation confirmed by the actress through a spokeswoman. But the chronic taking of the silver-gilt, custom-made place-card holders, which sell commercially for upward of $100, poses a serious problem for both the current first family and its predecessor.
Georgetown antiques dealer Frank Milwee designed an early version of the holder in the fall of 2003 for a private dinner commemorating the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist strikes. A few years later, aides to then-Vice President Cheney and President Bush ordered different versions of the holders independently of each other: the vice president’s residence has a silver eagle while the East Wing boasts Federal-style gilded eagles.
Milwee, who donates much of the cost of making the holders by providing them at a steep discount, does not engrave the ones he sells to the public with “The White House” mark at the bottom. That prompted East Wing staffers to tell him when they asked to have a second batch made, “Maybe we would have fewer losses if you wouldn’t mark these with ‘The White House.” ”Milwee complied, and at this point he has produced a total of 800 holders for the past two administrations. Of the engraving change, he said, “I don’t know if that has done a damn thing” to discourage their theft.
Still, he takes comfort in the fact that unlike presidential china, they are not prone to breakage. “Five hundred years from now, these little place-card holders will probably still be there,” he said, pausing for a moment. “If they’re not all stolen.”
29 Never gets old looking at pictures of a Great War – Kenn Riordan, Jr.
Photos: The Pacific and Adjacent Theaters in WWII Thanks to Don Kentopp (Kennedy)
Article & pictures courtesy of Denver Post/AP Photo
The below collection focuses on The Pacific War, a term referring to parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, the islands of the Pacific and the Far East. The start of The Pacific War is generally considered to be the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The Pacific War pitted the Allies against the Empire of Japan and culminated with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, Victory over Japan Day on August 15, 1945 and the official surrender of Japan aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
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33 And this is the most recent one – Kenn Riordan, Jr.
Women Veterans Thanks to Jack Koser (Truman)
GOD BLESS THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Got this photo from a friend who’s a vet and thought it should be passed on.
It’s something most of us never hear / think about...
We see lots of pictures of wounded male veterans but women vets get wounded and maimed too.
You may need to take a second, closer look though… The first thing I saw was a bunch of beautiful smiles.
34 This WWII Pilot Made A Historic Kill Thanks to Don Kentopp (Kennedy)
Bailed Out And Shot At, This WWII Pilot Made A Historic Kill
One Of Those Stories For The Ages.
It goes without saying but we’ll do it anyway. World War II was the bloodiest conflict in the world, sending the most amount of soldiers to a fight which ended with the greatest civilian and military casualties ever recorded. That’s saying a lot. There are a myriad of books written about this war in general, but since there were so many people involved, there are even more books written about their personal accounts.
There are so many takes on this horrendous time in our history, but think about the small incidents too. There were probably hundreds of thousands of acts of heroism that we’ll never hear about and maybe even more miracles that went unnoticed. We’re glad to say that we found one of those stories that include both.
Owen John Baggett was born in 1920 in Graham, Texas. By 1941 he graduated from college and went on to work on Wall Street, but by the following year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps (now USAF)when the United States entered the war.
A studious man, he graduated from pilot training in just five months and was sent to Burma, flying a B-24 Liberator. What he happened the following year is one of those stories we just described.
On March 31st, 1943, Baggett and his squadron were sent on a mission to destroy a bridge of strategic importance. On their way, the B-24s got intercepted by Japanese Zeros which hit the squadron hard. Baggett’s plane was riddled with bullets to such an extent that the crew was forced to bail out.
While parachuting, a Japanese pilot decided that downing the plane wasn’t enough. He circled around and started shooting at the bailed out pilots, killing two of the crew. Seeing this, Baggett did the only thing he could. He played dead.
Not convinced Baggett was dead, the Zero pulled up to him at near stall speed, the pilot opening his canopy to check on his horrendous work. Not wasting any time and thinking on his feet (no pun intended), Baggett pulled out his pistol and shot the pilot right in the head.
This is considered the best shot by a Caliber .45 M911 pistol of ALL TIME.
The last thing he saw was the Zero spiraling toward earth.
When he landed, he and the other bailed out crew members were captured and sent to a POW camp where they remained till the end of the war. They were liberated by OSS agents (World War II version of the modern CIA) and Baggett was recognized as the only person during the war to shoot down a Zero with a pistol.
35 For those questioning Nagasaki and Hiroshima – Kenn Riordan, Jr.
View the 1945 Naval Armada Set to Invade Japan Thanks to Bobby Chunn (Five Presidents)
If you have any interest in WWII info, you may find this very interesting.
Here comes another surprise... It was 1944 and the pictures were not available during the war. The US kept this place unknown to the citizens of the US. This is quite a story!!
An Armada of ships and airplanes poised for the invasion of Japan… that never happened… because President Truman authorized the dropping of “A” bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima that resulted in the Japanese surrender. Just think of the American lives that would have been lost had this invasion occurred. Be thankful that we had a President with the courage to make the call. Sadly most Americans today know nothing about this and the sacrifices made by those before us. We are not teaching US history in our schools anymore….
Some great pictures of the Ulithi armada! US Naval armada deployed for invasion of Japan. Keep this for posterity. There will never be another assemblage of naval ships like this again. Staging area for the invasion of Japan. Check out the carriers on "Murderer's Row."
Fathers, grandfathers or uncles in the Navy during World War II may well have been involved in this operation, given the tremendous number of the ships and personnel involved.
36 Society of White House Military Aides FY2016 Membership Drive
Washington Area Membership. I wish to renew/initiate my membership, access the FY 2016 Directory, and receive one lapel pin for new members. Enclosed are my dues of $30.00. Annual ______$30.00
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FY 2010 Lifetime Membership Extended. I wish to become a Lifetime Member ______$300.00
Memorabilia
1. Navy Blue Lapel Pin ______$5.00 each.
2. Society engraved pen (black/gold or navy/gold) ______$10.00 each ($8.00 for two or more)
3. George Elsey’s (Roosevelt/Truman Aide) Book, “An Unplanned Life” ______$15.00 each
4. Michael K. Bohn’s (Nixon) Book, “Nerve Center: Inside the White House Situation Room” ______$15.00 each
5. Alex R. Larzelere, CAPT USCG (Ret) (Nixon) Book, “Witness to History: White House Diary of a Military Aide to President Richard Nixon” ______$15.00 each
6. David C. Henley, BGEN (NVARNG-Ret) (Nixon) Book, “From Moscow to Beirut”______$20.00 each
7. SWHMA 2015 newsletter hard copy mailed ______$5.00 each
Directory Information
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Missing Aides: Please list names, address, phone, and email for any “Missing Aides.”
37 FY 2016 Upcoming Events
1. Are you interested in attending the White House Christmas Tour?
Yes______No______
2. Are you interested in a Spring Sr. Aides’ luncheon featuring an accomplished member as speaker?
Yes______No______
3. Are you interested in playing golf with competitive awards? Yes ______
Would you be willing to help coordinate the event? Yes ______
4. Are you interested in hosting or coordinating an event?
Picnic ______Wine Tasting ______Sports ______Other ______
5. What does the Society do especially well? ______
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website: http://swhma.org. You must register at the website to gain a user ID and password. You can use "member" and "member" for User name and Password to access the database. or
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Society of White House Military Aides ATTN: Kenn Riordan, Jr. 8825 Liverpool Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80920 Tel: (505) 450-4293
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